Hyundai A-League preview: City v Jets

​The Jets fly into the southern capital on cloud nine after a stunning win over champions Victory in Round 3. Will they extend their Melbourne hoodoo to City, who got back on the winning track last week.

The Jets come into this clash full of confidence after their 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory at Hunter Stadium. After leaking a staggering 55 goals in Season 2014/15 and finishing with the wooden spoon, the Jets have conceded just twice in three games and sit fourth on the ladder.

The Jets are clearly a different proposition this season.

City, meanwhile, have had a patchy start to the season but look to be on the right track after last week’s entertaining 3-1 win over the Mariners.

The hosts will be buoyed by their recent home record, with City undefeated in their past 10 regular season matches at AAMI.

Preparation could potentially be a factor in this clash, too, with the Jets enjoying a seven-day break between games compared to City’s five.

OPTA DATA

- Melbourne City are on their best ever unbeaten run against the Jets - undefeated in their last three, winning the previous two and scoring nine goals across both wins (D1).

- Newcastle have scored in nine of the last ten matches against City. However, they failed to score on their last encounter, losing 4-0.

- No goalkeeper has made more saves so far this season in the league than City’s Thomas Sorensen (13).

- Newcastle Jets have only won once away from home against Melbourne in the A-League, although that match was in December 2010. They’ve failed to win any of the next six (D2 L4).

ROUTE TO GOAL

For City, Aaron Mooy has started the season on fire and is integral to their creativity in the final third, especially with Robi Koren and Harry Novillo out injured.

Bruno Fornaroli is proving to be an astute signing for John van’t Schip’s side, with the Uruguayan netting three goals in three games including a brace against the Mariners. The 28-year-old’s clever runs in behind and ability to hold up the ball make him a real threat for opposition defences. He’s proving to be clinical in front of goal too.

The Jets’ game plan is built on a solid defensive structure and strong organisation lead by inspirational skipper Nigel Boogaard, while the likes of David Carney and Leonardo look to hurt teams on the counter attack.

Newcastle are a big threat from set pieces too, as David Carney’s winner against Victory proved last weekend. And Jets’ Brazilian marquee Leonardo is starting to show glimpses of his class after a slow start to the season. The former Feyenoord playmaker will be key to the Jets’ attacking options.

Carney has been the main goal-scoring threat for Newcastle in wide positions and his link-up play with Leonardo will pose City plenty of problems.

His prodigious left-boot is a handy asset for the Jets from the dead ball, too.

WHO’S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK?

Aaron Mooy. City’s marquee midfielder earned another call-up for the Socceroos’ upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Kyrgyzstan and Bangladesh. Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou hailed the 25-year-old midweek as the ‘best and most exciting’ player in the Hyundai A-League.